Never before have consumers been so empowered to share their travel adventures so easily and through so many channels. User Generated Content is driving a whole new way of content about your business whether you want it or not. You spend precious resources for the perfect photos

Using Google Alerts you can often be notified of new pictures of your B&amp;B or Inn. Try to comment and thank them for referencing. If they are really good ask to feature on your website or blog. Folks take pictures to share with family and friends and are really excited when someone takes notice. Imagine if they come back what they will do

Everlater offers a more personal concept with the concept of a travel log and the ability to connect to your social stream and leverage the Everlater iPhone App Not only can I map out my route, but I can share that content with friends and family. Interestingly enough they have partnered on a

Have you checked to see how folks respond to questions about B&amp;B’s in your city?

Not only can folks create their own maps and upload pictures of your location, but

Not a trend but more of a reminder. 85%

Not a trend but more of a reminder. 85%

While good social business design around location based apps are leading to innovative uses, the data collection for brands offers unique opportunities to serve up relevant data to the user Geo Targeted Push notifications and platforms will deliver messages based on time and location increasing relevance Yelp Checkins, Facebook, Twitter, where you are at with your entire social stream is very powerful.

Here’s an app that caters to the impulse traveler

With many orgs banning social media, mobile will become our Social Media Lifeline

As we grow weary of the number of facebook updates, tweets, etc, evidence suggests people will retreat to groups centered around their passion or hobby. This offers outstanding targeted branding and in conversation advertising opportunities Motortopia: allows car enthusiasts to talk shop, sell their cars to other members, and blog about their hobbies. If cars aren&apos;t your passion, the site also has tabs for bikes, boats, and planes. MuggleSpace: One of the top social networks for Potter-philes. It has chat, blogs , groups, and other features

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/3109022319/in/pool-bnbs

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/photo-milford-nj-inn-chestnut_hill_on_the_delaware.html As you are preparing in the kitchen this is also an opportunity to showcase homecooking, unique recipes with fresh local ingredients as well as videotape the cleanliness of the kitchen, the staff and the owner

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/3096390968/ Here’s an opportunity to ask your guests to post pictures to your twitter account or location based application. What if you had table tents that said. Go ahead and take a picture of your breakfast. Make your friends envious of your experience. Just cc us on twitter or post to our facebook page. Have your staff look for folks doing this Assist customers with activities and encourage photo taking. Including providing inexpensive camera’s for them to use stating you’ll be glad to email them the photos

Depending on what you have setup this provides a great social opportunity as guests head out on the town http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2474797&amp;id=51988029749#!/photo.php?pid=1831063&amp;id=51988029749&amp;fbid=51990769749

I’m going to spend a bit of time talking about this but the reality as marketers some times we get caught up with impressions, reach, and brand awareness and the overall quest for eyeballs. With an MBA and finance and accounting degree we all know it’s about the bottom line. But he results with social media aren’t instantaneous. It takes patience, evolution, and transition management within your company.

tracking visits, time spent, registrations and questions asked. The company will conduct Dynamic Logic surveys to gauge brand favorability changes in visitors

Branding: Use of a name, symbol (nike), Term (“Fedex it”) or design (absolut) that identifies a product Brand Equity: Most valuable component of a product or service Communicates a variety of information and reduces risk to the consumer Key differentiator in categories where products are otherwise commodities such as Dole Pinapples Brand Equity Valuable in 3 Ways: Memory- the consumer remembers the brand, the brand name itself provides information ot the consumer beyond what appears on the label Evaluation – branded items reduce shoppers time and effort to choose a product; brand information builds trust, therefore improving the consumers’ impressions and evaluation of the product Extensions – strong brand equity makes it easier to launch new products by leveraging the equity of the old ones (extension may however dilute/damage core brand) 5 Levels of Brand Familiarity: Brand Insistence – goal for targeted marketing campaigns, consumers will search for the term Brand Preference – consumers usually choose the brand over other products Brand Recognition – customers remember the brand Brand Non-Recognition – consumers don’t recognize the brand at all Brand Rejection – consumers won’t buy the brand unless the image is changed

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03/13/10 - Zena Weist, Director of Social Media, H&R Block &quot;If your word of mouth isn't positive, forget about brand awareness and consideration, if word of mouth is bad, there is no consideration.“

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What is Personal Branding 03/13/10 Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands. The creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. Personal branding often involves the application of one's name to various products. For example, celebrity real-estate mogul Donald Trump uses his last name extensively on his buildings and on the products he endorses (e.g.,Trump Hotels). -Wikipedia